Wednesday afternoon's huge multiple row-home fire in York no longer smolders. Some of the 53 residents who were displaced by the largest residential fire in the city's recent history -- 15 row homes-- are today combing through the wreckage.
As they rummaged through soggy drywall, carpet and lumber, it presented a surreal scene. From across the street, the back rooms, generally the kitchens, were untouched by the flames, smoke and water, while the families climb over the fallen homes.
On one kitchen table was a bag of Ruffles potato chips, a box of white rice and and a can of peaches. Below, a coffee maker and microwave oven made it through the fire without a scratch.
Some of the residents were cracking jokes -- "it's easier to laugh, and I can't cry anymore", says one-- while looking at old pictures, birthday cards and even bills.
A bag of ammunition was found Thursday afternoon, long after police took away dozens of guns that were held in a locker. Fighting a fire is one thing, but fighting a fire in which there are guns and live ammunition is an entirely different story. But a firefighter will be happy to remind you that no matter what the fire, there are always dangers.
This bag showed me a couple dozen reasons why I have nothing but praise for those folks.
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